Events A celebration of hotel tech
Name: The International Hotel Technology Forum Location: Austria Center, Vienna Date: 28–30 March 2023 Web:
www.arena-international.com Report: Review
T
he International Hotel Technology Forum is a flagship event within its industry, and this year, for its 20th anniversary, saw over 200 leading players from Europe’s top hotels descend on the Austria Center, Vienna. The three-day event delivered invaluable content and insight through a variety of session formats, including intimate fireside chats, engaging panel discussions and captivating presentations from top decision makers and thought leaders within the hospitality industry. A remarkable portfolio of high-quality speakers from some of the world’s top hotels shared their exclusive observation and insight, which made up an unrivalled agenda spanning across three days and two content tracks. Presentations addressed relevant trends, opportunities and the latest innovations and technological developments in hospitality. Roger Tabbal, vice-president, global guest technology & innovation at Accor gave an enlightening talk on the evolution of digital check-ins and key cards and Dario Artiola, director of revenue performance at Radisson wowed the audience with his insights on the potential of data to increase overall revenue. Another highlight was a talk by Matt Arnull and Tasha Morrison from Whitbred on sustainability strategies in IT – a particularly hot button issue in the hostels industry at the moment. Attendees were able to take what they had learned during the variety of insightful sessions and discuss this further over networking lunches, which were held on each day of the forum. IHTF’s unique format, alternating speaker sessions and pre-scheduled one-to-one meetings, gave vendors the exclusive opportunity to connect personally with the prospective buyers of their choice. Enthusiasm is always strong among solution providers and hoteliers alike for this innovative event structure; after all, the pixelated 2D of videoconferencing will never match the collaborative intimacy of meeting in person. Speaking on the impact of the event, a programme manager for Accor said: “I have attended many ITHF sessions over the years and continue to declare this being one of the must-attend events on the annual agenda. Please do keep it up!”
The event would not exist without its loyal community, and this year’s delegates did not
Hotel Management International /
www.hmi-online.com
The International Hotel Technology Forum boasts over 200 leading players.
disappoint. Over 750 one-to-one meetings were held at the venue, but the networking did not stop there. Connecting with their peers and new contacts within the industry went well into the evening, with attendees making their way to the prestigious Melia Hotel Vienna on both day one and day two of the forum for a celebratory drinks reception hosted by the event organisers, Arena International.
This was followed by two sit-down dinners, where delegates could chat in a more informal setting, cementing their new contacts or follow up in person with potential prospects. It is a testament to the energy in the room that some carried on into the night at the Melia’s sky bar, with breathtaking views across the Vienna skyline. No wonder the Head of IT at IHG described the 2023 event as “one of the best ever”.
“I have attended many ITHF sessions over the years and continue to declare this being one of the must-attend events on the annual agenda.”
In 2024, IHTF will be hosted in Barcelona – a city that not only attracts nearly ten million overnight visitors every year but is emerging as an exciting tech hub. Arena International are excited to announce that this year our Europe edition will be accompanied by IHTF Asia, on 12–13 November in Singapore. Expect sessions on all the biggest trends for 2024 – emerging booking channels, the rise of IoT, how to optimise costs, to name a few. This is not one to miss. ●
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